NORTHBROOK, Ill., July 13, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Allstate Insurance Company and the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) today announced 165 nominees for the 2016 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team®, one of the most coveted off-the-field honors in college football. This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Good Works Team® award, which was established in 1992 to recognize a select group of college football players who have made a commitment to service and enriching the lives of others.

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For 25 years, the players selected have carried on the award's mission by demonstrating that 'good works' extend beyond the football field. This year's nominees uphold impressive service resumes detailing inspiring stories of servitude and the exceptional ability to balance academics with athletics, while donating their limited free time and energy to helping others.

"Allstate is proud to join the AFCA in celebrating 25 years of honoring college football players who represent the sport's finest in volunteerism and leadership," said Thomas Clarkson, president of the west territory for Allstate Insurance Company and a member of the 2016 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® voting panel. "The positive impact these young athletes have on their communities is an inspiration to us all and another reason to celebrate the good happening in our communities and in college athletics."

In honor of the 25th anniversary, Allstate and the AFCA will add three additional spots to this year's team and announce a final roster of 25 members in September. For the first time in the award's history, the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® will be comprised of 12 players from the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision, 12 players from the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision, Divisions II, III and the NAIA and an honorary head coach.

With winning records and championships on the line each season, off-the-field service contributions can go overlooked. The Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® pays tribute to these stories of good and the student-athletes who have dedicated countless hours towards helping others. From donating bone marrow to save a stranger's life to helping build a school in a rural village overseas, the players nominated to the 25th anniversary team have demonstrated a unique commitment to improving their communities.

"The Allstate AFCA Good Works Team has been one of the most prestigious off-the-field awards in college football for the past 25 years," AFCA Executive Director Todd Berry said. "It is with great pride that we partner with Allstate to highlight some of the best student-athletes in the country who not only excel on the field, but off of it as well."

From the nominees submitted by sports information directors across the nation on behalf of their schools, a special voting panel consisting of former Good Works Team® members and prominent college football media members will select the 2016 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team.®

The 2016 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® voting panel includes: former Good Works Team® members Zaid Abdul-Aleem (Duke, 1994 team), Matt Stinchcomb (Georgia, 1997, 1998 teams), Brian Brenberg (St. Thomas, 2001 team), Mike Proman (Amherst, 2002 team); media members Kirk Herbstreit (ESPN) and Blair Kerkhoff (Kansas City Star); current AFCA President and Ashland University head coach Lee Owens; 2001 AFCA President and current athletic director at Virginia Union University Joe Taylor; and Thomas Clarkson, president of the west territory for Allstate Insurance Company.

Once the final team members are announced in September, fans are encouraged to visit the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® website on ESPN.com, which features profiles and images of the players, and provides the opportunity to vote for the 2016 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® Captain.

In order to meet the criteria set forth by Allstate and the AFCA, each player must be actively involved with a charitable organization or service group while maintaining a strong academic standing.

The following players have been nominated for consideration to be named to the 2016 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team ®.

Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS)

Appalachian State University – Darian Small

Clemson University – Deshaun Watson

Arizona State University – Viliami Moeakiola

Colorado State University – Elroy Masters Jr.

Auburn University – Daniel Carlson

Duke University – DeVon Edwards

Ball State University – Teddy Williamson

Florida State University – Alec Eberle

Baylor University – Lynx Hawthorne

Georgia Institute of Technology – KeShun Freeman

Boise State University – Jake Roh

Georgia State University – Keith Rucker

Brigham Young University – Mitchell Juergens

Indiana University – Mitchell Paige

California State University, Fresno – Jacob Vazquez

Iowa State University – Cole Netten

Central Michigan University – Cooper Rush

Kansas State University – Dante Barnett

Marshall University – Ryan Yurachek

Kent State University – Nick Cuthbert

Michigan State University – Josiah Price

University of Kansas – Fish Smithson

Middle Tennessee State University – Brent Stockstill

University of Louisiana at Lafayette – Elijah McGuire

Mississippi State University – Brandon Holloway

University of Louisville – Brandon Radcliff

North Carolina State University – Tony Adams

University of Maryland – William Likely

Northern Illinois University – Sean Folliard

University of Memphis – Jake Elliott

Northwestern University – Matthew Harris

University of Miami – Brad Kaaya

Ohio State University – Pat Elflein

University of Michigan – Jehu Chesson

Old Dominion University – Tyler Compton

University of Minnesota – Damarius Travis

Oregon State University – Will Hopkins

University of Mississippi – Evan Engram

Purdue University – Cameron Posey

University of Missouri – Donavin Newsom

Rice University – Darik Dillard

University of Nebraska – Drew Brown

Rutgers University – Derrick Nelson

University of Nevada – Jeremy Macauley

San Jose State University – Tim Crawley

University of Nevada, Las Vegas – Kyle Saxelid

Syracuse University – Jason Emerich

University of New Mexico – Garrett Adcock

Temple University – Jacob Martin

University of North Carolina – Nick Weiler

Texas A&M University – Trevor Knight

University of North Carolina at Charlotte – Jamal Covington

Texas Christian University – Caylin Moore

University of Oklahoma – Samaje Perine

Texas State University – Felix Romero

University of Pittsburgh – Mike Caprara

Texas Tech University – Patrick Mahomes II

University of Southern California – John Plattenburg

Troy University – John Johnson

University of Southern Mississippi – Nick Mullens

University of Akron – DeAndre Scott

University of Toledo – Brad Spelman

University of Alabama – O.J. Howard

University of Tulsa – Dane Evans

University of Arkansas – Deatrich Wise Jr.

University of Virginia – Matt Johns

University of California – Jack Austin

University of Wisconsin – Vince Biegel

University of Colorado Boulder – Derek McCartney

Utah State University – Travis Seefeldt

University of Connecticut – Bobby Puyol

Vanderbilt University – Oren Burks

University of Florida – Jarrad Davis

Wake Forest University – Ryan Janvion

University of Georgia – Jeb Blazevich

West Virginia University – Skyler Howard

University of Hawaii at Manoa – Makani Kema-Kaleiwahea

Western Kentucky University – Marcus Ward

University of Houston – Greg Ward Jr.

Western Michigan University – Zach Terrell

University of Illinois – Joe Spencer

Combined Divisions (FCS, II, III & NAIA)

Alma College – Nick Mangutz

Colorado School of Mines – Stephen Candelaria

Ashland University – Zach Bernhard

Colorado State University-Pueblo – Alex Belconis

Bethel University (Minn.) – Drew Neuville

Dakota State University – Dereck DeVries

Black Hills State University – Phydell Paris

Davidson College – Nate Casey

Butler University – Sean Horan

Drake University – Taylor Coleman

California Polytechnic State University – Matt Fisher

East Stroudsburg University – Robert Healy

Carnegie Mellon University – Brian Khoury

East Texas Baptist University – Ryan Travis

Carson-Newman University – Dan Gallman

Eastern Oregon University – Zach Bartlow

Central Methodist University – Wes Davis

Eureka College – Trever Zeibert

College of Wooster – Todd Ulmer

Fordham University – Kevin Anderson

Frostburg State University – Isaac Robinson

The Citadel – Joe Crochet

Harding University – De'Onte Garrett

Towson University – Darius Victor

Hope College – Brandon Ellsworth

Trinity University (Texas) – Julian Turner

Illinois State University – Alejandro Rivera

Tufts University – Alex Kim

Johns Hopkins University – Jack Campbell

Union College – Jermaine Carn

Lake Forest College – Ryan Shalosky

University of Chicago – Tim Veselik

Liberty University – Dexter Robbins

University of New Hampshire – DeVaughn Chollette

Macalester College – Forest Redlin

University of North Dakota – Luke Mathewson

Manchester University – Nathan Birk

University of Northern Iowa – Jamison Whiting

Marist College – Cameron Gibson

University of Northwestern (Minn.) – Ben Greener

Missouri State University – Dylan Cole

University of Puget Sound – Brett Pilling

Montana State University – Mitchell Herbert

University of Redlands – Jack Rulon

Montana Tech – Levi Dawes

University of Rochester – Matthew Pisano

Moravian College – Jalen Snyder-Scipio

University of San Diego – Devyn Bryant

Morningside College – Luke Grooters

University of Sioux Falls – Luke Papilion

North Carolina Central University – Carl Jones

University of South Dakota – John Wessel

North Dakota State University – Chase Morlock

University of St. Thomas – Nick Waldvogel

Northern Arizona University – Corbin Jountti

University of Tennessee at Chattanooga – Derrick Craine

Northwestern State University – JeMarcus Marshall

University of the Cumberlands – Adam Craig

Norwich University – Derek Lotito

University of the Incarnate Word – Michael Allen

Ohio Wesleyan University – Jerry Harper

University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh – Brett Kasper

Oklahoma Baptist University – Zach Clark

Washburn University – Michael Miller

Peru State College – Travis Carnahan

Wayne State University (Mich.) – Trent Brodbeck

Pittsburg State University – Deron Washington

West Chester University – Doug Gilbert

Princeton University – Mason Darrow

West Texas A&M University – Dillon Vaughan

Saint Augustine's University – Julius Murphy

West Virginia Wesleyan College – Tavaris Anderson

Saint John's University (Minn.) – Carter Hanson

Western Carolina University – Tyson Dickson

South Dakota State University – Shayne Gottlob

Western Illinois University – Brett Taylor

Southeastern Oklahoma State University – Kaymon Farmer

Western New England University – Obi Etuka

Southwest Minnesota State University – Grant Greenfield

Wingate University – Lawrence Pittman

Stephen F. Austin State University – Marlon Walls

Yale University – Sebastian Little

Texas A&M University-Kingsville – Greg Pitre

Texas Lutheran University – Tyler Howlett

The following coaches have been nominated for consideration to be named to the 2016 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team ® as the honorary head coach.

Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS)

Eastern Michigan University – Chris Creighton

Michigan State University – Mark Dantonio

Tulane University – Willie Fritz

University of Alabama – Nick Saban

University of Miami – Mark Richt

Combined Divisions (FCS, II, III & NAIA)

Jacksonville State University – John Grass [FCS]

Morningside College – Steve Ryan [NAIA]

Pittsburg State University – Tim Beck [DII]

University of Minnesota Duluth – Curt Wiese [DII]

University of St. Thomas – Glenn Caruso [DIII]

About AllstateThe Allstate Corporation (NYSE: ALL) is the nation's largest publicly held personal lines insurer, protecting approximately 16 million households from life's uncertainties through auto, home, life and other insurance offered through its Allstate, Esurance, Encompass and Answer Financial brand names. Now celebrating its 85th anniversary as an insurer, Allstate is widely known through the slogan "You're In Good Hands With Allstate®." The Allstate brand's network of small businesses offers auto, home, life and retirement products and services to customers in the United States and Canada. In 2015, The Allstate Foundation, Allstate, its employees and agency owners gave $36 million to support local communities. Allstate employees and agency owners donated 230,000 hours of service across the country.

About the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team®The Allstate AFCA Good Works Teams® were established in 1992 by the College Football Association, recognizing the extra efforts made by college football players and student support staff off the field. AFCA became the governing body of the award in 1997 and continues to honor college football players who go the extra mile for those in need. Allstate worked to present the award starting with the 2008 season.

The SEC leads all conferences with 62 selections to the Good Works Team since it began in 1992. The SEC is followed by the Big 12 Conference with 47 selections and the Atlantic Coast Conference with 29 selections. Georgia is in first place with 16 honorees to the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team. ® The Bulldogs are followed by Nebraska with 14 honorees. Super Bowl XLII, XLVI and XLI champion quarterbacks Eli and Peyton Manning were members of the 2002 and 1997 Good Works Teams®, respectively.

About AFCAThe AFCA was founded in 1922 and currently has more than 11,000 members around the world ranging from the high school level to the professional ranks. According to its constitution, the AFCA was formed, in part, to "maintain the highest possible standards in football and in the coaching profession" and to "provide a forum for the discussion and study of all matters pertaining to football."